Prayer

Movies/Scenes Representing Prayer

Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
- Everett and his friends are about to be hung and he breaks into a fervent prayer asking for forgiveness and deliverance. After he is delivered, he returns to his religious skepticism. (Darrel Manson, Artesia Christian Church, Artesia, CA)
The Patriot (2000)
- A number of scenes of Benjamin Martin at prayer. See review at Hollywood Jesus.
Meet the Parents (2000)
- Comical prayer scene. (Peter Narloch)
The End of An Affair (1999)
- Prayer and a corresponding vow made to God are central elements in the story of the currently playing "End of the Affair." "Be careful what you pray for -- you may get it!" (submitted by Lynn Mason)
Election (1999)
- "The movie "Election" includes a good scene about prayer. The night before three people are about to take part in a heated, twisted school election they each pray. Some pray for victory, some pray that the best person win. It suggests what you can and cannot pray for." (Tina Squire, from Rev Kenneth Fuller)
The Green Mile (1999)
- John Coffey prays with the warden before his death.
The Confession (1999)
- Fertig praying in prison (DVD ch 6). Resolves to take responsibility for his actions as a strong act.
- Bleakie at cemetery (DVD ch 16)
- Sabbath prayers at beginning of movie.
Angela's Ashes (1999)
- Malachy, Frank and young Malachy pray following the deaths of Eugene and Oliver. Frankie prays in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Toast. (DVD ch 5)
Waking Ned Divine (1998)
- "God bless mothers and fathers and grandparents, too..."
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
- In Saving Private Ryan the sniper, Jackson, prays continually while doing his awful work. There is a scene just after the landing where his prayer for strength as he aims his rifle is intercut with a priest on the beach praying over a dying soldier. (submitted by Mike Clark, Hamilton, Canada)
Mulan (1998)
- Mulan prays to her family's ancestors for protection and luck before departing.
Deep Impact (1998)
- The President of the US addresses the nation and explains earth is about to end. He prays.
  Start cue: President walks into his office and puts on his coat.
  End cue: Crosses back to the TV journalist (approx 2 mins). (Youth Alpha Australia)
The Apostle (1997)
- Euliss "Sonny" Dewey prays with a severely injured young man at the scene of an automobile crash. (submitted by David K. Miller)
- After leaving his wife upon learning of her infidelity, Euliss "Sonny" Dewey prays while pacing in his mother's attic. (submitted by David K. Miller)
- Running from the consequences of hitting his wife's lover with a baseball bat, Euliss "Sonny" Dewey stops an intersection, gets out of his car, kneels, and asks, "Which way, Lord? Which way?" (submitted by David K. Miller)
- On the run after hitting his wife's lover with a baseball bat, Euliss "Sonny" Dewey spends time in a pup tent fasting and praying for transformation and restoration. (submitted by David K. Miller)
- Early in the movie, Sonny' s life and ministry begin to fall apart. His sin has ruined his marriage and his pastorate. In this particular scene, Sonny is upstairs in his bedroom, praying out loud to the Lord. Like the psalmist, he cries out to God and questions Him. In his prayer, he asks to understand God's will, but if Sonny can't understand (or agree) with God's will, he asks for God's peace, so that he might accept it. A wonderful clip for honest prayer and the yearning for internal peace. (the Rev. Steven B. Borst, Irvine, CA)
Titanic (1997)
- prayer scene as ship is sinking, the string quartet playing hymns (submitted by Ann Fontaine, Lander WY)
Breaking the Waves (1996)
- There are fascinating scene in which Bess carries on conversations with God. Bess talks, and then God talks through Bess's voice. God scolds her, God comforts her. Is she crazy, is she projecting, or is that really God talking? (submitted by Darrel Manson, Artesia CA)
The Preacher's Wife (1996)
- Rev Biggs' prayer is answered in a dubious way - by Dudley's appearance.
Dead Man Walking (1995)
- Sister Helen prays with and for Matthew Poncelet.
Priest (1994)
- The young priest prays in anguish over his inability to intervene in the abuse suffered by one of his young parishioners, at the very same time the mother of the girl arrives home unexpectedly to discover the abuse firsthand. (submitted by Meg Queior, Richmond ME)
Natural Born Killers (1994)
- Mickey Knox: Mister rabbit says, "A moment of realization is worth a thousand prayers."
The Stand (1994)
- Mother Abigail's prayer (DVD pt 2, ch 7)
Shadowlands (1993)
- a very short section where Lewis makes a profound statement on prayer.
  Start cue: "Jack, what?s news?"
  End cue: "It doesn?t change God, it changes me." (Youth Alpha Australia)
Sister Act (1992)
- Jonah's prayer in the belly of the big fish has the feel of a patchwork quilt prayer, made up of quotes from various psalms. It reveals the value of living with scripture whereby, like our learning to talk as children by listening to our parents, learning to pray flows from listening to the words of the Word. In the movie, "Sister Act," Whoopie Goldberg's character, a Reno show girl in witness protection, hiding in an inner city convent, prays out loud (for the first time?) over a meal with a similar patchwork, those zanily more limited scripturally, effort. The sound byte can be found at: http://members.tripod.com/~sister_act/prayer.wav. (submitted by Pete Haynes)
- Sister Mary Clarence is asked to pray at dinner and the results are very funny.
  Start cue: Sister Mary Patrick raises her hand.
  End cue: Nurses echo "Amen" (approx 1 min).
  Alternatively use the section where nuns pray manipulative prayers in the helicopter. (Youth Alpha Australia)
Leap of Faith (1992)
- (I use this to show prayer's triumph over lies and deceit) Toward the end a crippled boy who has pleaded with the faith healer to be healed, calls on him again. Trying to avoid the confrontation, the Preacher tries to set the stage for the healing to fail. The boy's faith and belief as he takes the feet of the figure of Christ are strongly shown as he prays - and God's work His miracle on him - stunning the faith healer/con man (David Shivers)
Die Hard 2 (1990)
- (Negative example) Holly McClane who never really shows herself to be a woman of faith suddenly breaks into prayer when the nose of her fuel-empty plane heads toward earth. (submitted by Pastor Shawn)
Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
- After the death of Miss Daisy's cook/housekeeper, Miss Daisy and Hoke fix lunch for themselves. A very simple and touching scene shows Hoke serving Miss Daisy - who begins to eat immediately - and Hoke retreating to the kitchen where he gives silent thanks over his meal. (David Shivers)
M*A*S*H: Farewell, Goodbye and Amen (1983)
- Father Francis Mulcahy prays about his recent deafness: "What good is a deaf priest? Every day I pray, and I keep getting worse. Are you deaf, too?" (submitted by David K. Miller) Father Francis Mulcahy quotations.
Yentl (1983)
- Her prayer shawl glowing in the light of her lamp, Yentl prays that she may be robed in light. (submitted by David K. Miller)
The Day After (1983)
- pretty bleak scene of the pastor leading a group praying for deliverance after the dropping of a nuclear bomb -- filmed in Kansas. (submitted by Ann Fontaine, Lander WY)
Dragonslayer (1981)
- ineffectual prayer to rid the area of the dragon that is terrorizing the area. (submitted by Ann Fontaine, Lander WY)
Blazing Saddles (1974)
- Be careful with this one - there are two quick prayer scenes - the first ends in vulgarity. The second shows a gunfighter having to concentrate on making a difficult, long distance shot to save the town. As he sights in his pistol and everything is quiet the old Preacher begins to pray loudly - breaking everyone's concentration. The townfolk good take their hats and quiet the Preacher. This scene is funny and does little harm. (David Shivers)
Cool Hand Luke (1967)
- [Discussing God and the rain]
  Lucas (Luke) Jackson: Let him go. Bam, Bam.
  Dragline: Knock it off, Luke. You can't talk about Him that way.
  Lucas (Luke) Jackson: Are you still believin' in that big bearded Boss up there? You think he's watchin' us?
  Dragline: Get in here. Ain't ya scared? Ain't ya scared of dyin'?
  Lucas (Luke) Jackson: Dyin'? Boy, he can have this little life any time he wants to. Do ya hear that? Are ya hearin' it? Come on. You're welcome to it, ol' timer. Let me know you're up there. Come on. Love me, hate me, kill me, anything. Just let me know it. [He looks around] I'm just standin' in the rain talkin' to myself. (Quote from Internet Movie Database @ http://us.imdb.com/Quotes?0061512) (submitted by David K. Miller)
- At the end of the movie, Luke has escaped from a prison work gang and finds himself in an abandoned church. His prayers sounds much like a rebellious son trying to get the attention of an absent father. (submitted by David K. Miller)
- The Prayer in the Church: An absolutely perfect representation of the Garden of Gethsemane. For heaven's sake, he even calls God "Old Man," which is slang for Father, of course; but he also asks if there isn't another way out of this mess, and God answers with silence, which Jesus must have felt. And the "answer" that God sends him is Judas, leading the authorities who will take him away to his death. Luke's "If that's the way you want it..." equals "Not my will, but yours be done," with a Luke attitude, naturally. (Tim Ihssen)
The Ten Commandments (1956)
- A beautiful and moving scene with Moses talking to God at the burning bush - music is superb here also as Moses climbs the mountain. (David Shivers)
The Night of the Hunter (1955)
- The false prayer of "Rev Harry Powell" which uses all of the right religious words, but which asks God to lead him to his next victim. (Probably more common - though the evil is more intensely obvious - than most of us would like to admit.)
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)
- The first time you see Captain Nemo he is leading an underwater burial team. He carries a large cross made of coral and on command all kneel on the sea floor for silent prayer over their deceased shipmate. (David Shivers)
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
- The opening scene of the movie, which begins with a chorus of prayer being offered on behalf of George Bailey, who is facing the crisis of his life. In the same movie, George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) praying for himself ("help me...") (submitted by Meg Queior, Richmond ME)
The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)
- At the end of the movie the good sister is seen in the Chapel praying for peace and understanding on having to be transferred from her beloved St. Mary's school. (David Shivers)

Index of Movie Titles

Index of Movie Themes